Softball
Fernandez, Lisa
Lisa Fernandez
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Alma Mater:
- UCLA, '95
- Year at UCLA:
- 28th in 2026
One of the greatest figures in the sport of softball, Lisa Fernandez begins her 28th season on the UCLA coaching staff and fourth season as the Mark Kalmansohn UCLA Associate Head Softball Coach in 2026. This marks Fernandezโs second stint as a full-time member on the UCLA staff, serving as an assistant coach from 1997-99 and 2007-22 and associate head coach since 2023. She also operated as a volunteer assistant from 2000-04.
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In Fernandezโs 27 seasons on staff, the Bruins have posted a 1,267-272-2 record (.822), claimed five NCAA Championships (1999, โ03, โ04, โ10 and โ19), made 13 Womenโs College World Series appearances, won seven Pac-10/12 Conference regular season titles and one Pac-12 Tournament championship. Fernandez has been a member of the NFCA National Coaching Staff of the Year three times (2004, โ10 and โ19) and NFCA Regional CSOY nine times (2000, โ10, โ14, โ15, โ16, โ19, โ21, โ24 and โ25).
ย
After the college season, Fernandez continues to make her impact on the sport as one of four general managers and an advisor in the newly-organized Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL). Fernandez guided the Talons to the first-ever AUSL title in the inaugural year of the upstart professional league in Summer 2025. The Talons, which featured UCLA alumnae Maya Brady, Megan Faraimo, Sharlize Palacios and Jadelyn Allchin on their roster, finished with aย league-bestย 18-6 record. The first year of the AUSL was wildly successful, selling out 20 games which were held at a variety of sites around the country. The AUSL Championship Series between the Talons and Bandits peaked at 347,000 viewers on ESPN.
ย
For the last two seasons at UCLA, Fernandezโs primaryย responsibilities have been with the Bruinsโ hitters and infielders as well as managing the teamโs recruiting efforts. Fernandez oversaw one of the most high-powered offenses in the country in 2025, ranking top 10 nationally in runs scored (485), home runs (101) and slugging percentage (.591). The Bruins totaled 101 home runs, marking just the second time in program history a UCLA team had eclipsed the century mark. UCLA set a program record with 28 mercy-rule victories and ranked second in the country with a +312 run differential.
ย
The stars of the UCLA lineup were Megan Grant and Jordan Woolery who made up one of the most lethal slugging duos in the country. Grant set the Big Ten Conference single-season record and ranked second in UCLA single-season history with 26 home runs. Woolery joined Grant in the 20-homer club with 23 blasts, signaling just the second time a UCLA duo had each homered 20 times in the same year. Woolery finished the season with a nation-leading 86 runs batted in.
ย
Three of Fernandezโs hitters were named NFCA All-Americans in 2025. Grant and Woolery were tabbed as First Team selections for the first time in their collegiate careers. Senior Savannah Pola received the first All-America recognition of her career being named to the Third Team after a breakout season as UCLAโs batting average leader (.428). Pola ranked second in the nation in hits (98) and fourth in runs scored (73).
ย
Prior to 2024, Fernandez's primary coaching responsibility was in the Bruinsโ bullpen where she coached 10 UCLA hurlers to 21 NFCA All-America awards. UCLA finished top 10 nationally and top two in the Pac-12 in earned run average in each of her final five seasons as pitching coach from 2019-23. Under her tutelage, Rachel Garcia won two Honda Cups, three Honda Sport Awards, two USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year awards, one NFCA National Player of the Year award, one NFCA National Pitcher of the Year award, two Pac-12 Player of the Year awards, one Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year award and was a four-time NFCA All-American (three First Team). In addition, Megan Faraimo won three NFCA All-America awards (two First Team) and was honored as the program's first back-to-back Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year in 2022 and 2023 with the help of Fernandez.
ย
In 2019, Garcia put on a performance for the ages in the circle to bring home the Bruins' 12th NCAA title. Garcia started and was the winning pitcher in all five games at the WCWS. She tossed a complete game in four of those contests, including a 10-inning shutout with 16 strikeouts versus Washington which she walked off with a three-run homer to give herself the win. In total, Garcia threw 36.0 of UCLAโs 38.0 innings in Oklahoma City.
ย
In November 2013, Fernandez was inducted into the National Softball National Hall of Fame, joining Sharron Backus, Gina Vecchione, Sheila Cornell-Douty, Dot Richardson and Sue Enquist. A decade prior, she was inducted into the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003.
ย
Fernandez is a three-time Olympic gold medalist, having helped Team USA to victories in the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games. The only pitcher to appear in all three Olympic finals, Fernandez served as a threat on both sides of the plate. Overall, she achieved a 7-2 record throughout her Olympic career, allowing only 20 hits, seven walks and six runs (four earned) while striking out 93 over 74.2 innings. In addition to her pitching accolades, Fernandez maintained a .333 batting average overall in Atlanta, Sydney and Athens with three home runs, 15 RBIs and 13 runs scored.ย A rare pitcher/hitter, Fernandez has the distinction of holding four individual Olympic records: most strikeouts in a game (25), fewest runs allowed, highest batting average in Olympic play (.545) and most doubles (3). These accolades helped land her in the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame as both an individual and with the 2004 U.S. Olympic Softball Team.
ย
In 1996, Fernandez shined in the United States' 3-1 gold medal victory over China, recording the final three outs to earn a save. She went 1-1 with a 0.33 ERA in softball's inaugural appearance in the Olympics in Atlanta. In the 2000 Sydney Games, Fernandez pitched the U.S. to victory in both the semifinal win over Australia and the gold medal game against Japan. She established an Olympic single-game strikeout record with 25 in a round-robin game against Australia and posted a 0.47 ERA and 52 strikeouts. In 2004, Fernandez was Team USA's top hitter and pitcher, posting a .545 batting average (12-for-22), which set a new record for an Olympic tournament. For the third-consecutive Games, she was in the circle for the final out of the gold medal contest, a 5-1 victory over Australia. Fernandez was selected as an alternate to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
ย
In 1999, Fernandez was named the ASA/USA Softball Female Athlete of the Year. As a pitcher and third baseman, she helped the USA Softball Women's National Team to gold medals at both the Pan American Games and Canada Cup. She also helped the California Commotion win the ASA Women's Major Fast Pitch championship for the fourth consecutive time.
ย
As a player on the professional circuit, Fernandez collected nine ASA All-American titles and seven ASA Womenโs Major Fast Pitch National titles, three times with the Raybestos Brakettes and four times with the California Commotion. She also won the MVP award five times and the Bertha Tickey Award five times
ย
One of the sportโs greatest college players, Fernandez was a two-time NCAA Champion and the first four-time NFCA First Team All-American in school history while starring for UCLA from 1990-93. A three-time winner of the Honda Sport Award, Fernandez became the first softball player to win the prestigious Honda-Broderick Cup in 1993, given to the most outstanding collegiate female athlete in all sports. She led UCLA to national championships in 1990 and 1992 and runner-up finishes in 1991 and 1993. She earned NFCA All-Region and All-Pac-10 First Team each season and was named the Pac-10 Player of the Year her final three seasons. Her jersey was retired by UCLA in 1995. Fernandez was also honored as the Pac-12 Softball Player of the Century and Pitcher of the Century by the league in 2016.
ย
Fernandez booked a career record of 93-7 with 784 strikeouts and 0.22 ERA. Her ERA ranks second in NCAA history and her 74 shutouts are tops at UCLA and tied for ninth in NCAA annals. Fernandezโs strikeout and win totals rankย seventh and eighth in school history, respectively. In her junior and senior seasons, Fernandez had the lowest ERA in the nation (0.14 in 1992, 0.25 in 1993) and sported a perfect 29-0 record in the circle in 1992. She tossed 11 career no-hitters, including a pair in the 1993 WCWS, along with two perfect games.
ย
Fernandez was just as powerful at the plate, batting .382 (287-for-752) with 15 home runs and 128 RBIs. She hit .401 in her junior season, but eclipsed that mark by more than 100 points in her senior campaign, batting an NCAA-best .510 with 11 homers and 45 RBIs. Fernandez still ranks in the UCLA top 10 in numerous offensive categories, including sixth in hits.
ย
Fernandez earned her bachelorโs degree in psychology from UCLA in 1995. She returned to the program in 2007 to join her longtime best friend and Bruin batterymate Kelly Inouye-Perez embarking on her first year as head coach.
ย
Fernandez and Mike Lujan, who were married in August 2002, have two sons, Antonio and Cruz, and reside in Long Beach. Antonio enters his sophomore season as an outfielder on the Azusa Pacific baseball team in 2026. Mike was a two-year letterwinner for the same program in 1988-89 where he appeared in 96 games and hit for a career .324 batting average with 12 home runs.
ย
Fernandezโs Coaching Experience
1997-99 โ Assistant Coach, UCLA
2000-04 โ Volunteer Assistant Coach, UCLA
2007-22 โ Assistant Coach, UCLA
2023-Pres. โ Associate Head Coach, UCLA
Career Highlights
Career
โข 3-time Olympic Gold Medalist (2004, 2000, 1996)
โข UCLA Athletic Hall of Famer (Class of 2003)
โข National Softball Hall of Famer (Class of 2013)
โข U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Famer
โข Pac-12 Softball Player of the Century (2016)
โข Pac-12 Softball Pitcher of the Century (2016)
โข UCLA Retired Jersey No. 16 (1995)
ย
As UCLA Assistant & Associate Head Coach (1997-99; 2007-22)
โข 5-time NCAA Champion (2019, 2010, 2004, 2003, 1999)
โข 3-time NFCA National Coaching Staff of the Year (2019, 2010, 2004)
โข 9-time NFCA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year
ย
As UCLA Student-Athlete (1990-93)
โข 2-time NCAA Champion (1992, 1990)
โข 2-time NCAA Runner-Up (1992, 1990)
โข Honda-Broderick Cup winner (1993)
โข 3-time Honda Sport Award winner (1993, 1992, 1991)
โข 4-time NFCA First Team All-American (1993, 1992, 1991, 1990)
โข 3-time Pac-10 Player of the Year (1993, 1992, 1991)
โข 4-time All-Pac-10 First Team honoree (1993, 1992, 1991, 1990)
ย
ย
In Fernandezโs 27 seasons on staff, the Bruins have posted a 1,267-272-2 record (.822), claimed five NCAA Championships (1999, โ03, โ04, โ10 and โ19), made 13 Womenโs College World Series appearances, won seven Pac-10/12 Conference regular season titles and one Pac-12 Tournament championship. Fernandez has been a member of the NFCA National Coaching Staff of the Year three times (2004, โ10 and โ19) and NFCA Regional CSOY nine times (2000, โ10, โ14, โ15, โ16, โ19, โ21, โ24 and โ25).
ย
After the college season, Fernandez continues to make her impact on the sport as one of four general managers and an advisor in the newly-organized Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL). Fernandez guided the Talons to the first-ever AUSL title in the inaugural year of the upstart professional league in Summer 2025. The Talons, which featured UCLA alumnae Maya Brady, Megan Faraimo, Sharlize Palacios and Jadelyn Allchin on their roster, finished with aย league-bestย 18-6 record. The first year of the AUSL was wildly successful, selling out 20 games which were held at a variety of sites around the country. The AUSL Championship Series between the Talons and Bandits peaked at 347,000 viewers on ESPN.
ย
For the last two seasons at UCLA, Fernandezโs primaryย responsibilities have been with the Bruinsโ hitters and infielders as well as managing the teamโs recruiting efforts. Fernandez oversaw one of the most high-powered offenses in the country in 2025, ranking top 10 nationally in runs scored (485), home runs (101) and slugging percentage (.591). The Bruins totaled 101 home runs, marking just the second time in program history a UCLA team had eclipsed the century mark. UCLA set a program record with 28 mercy-rule victories and ranked second in the country with a +312 run differential.
ย
The stars of the UCLA lineup were Megan Grant and Jordan Woolery who made up one of the most lethal slugging duos in the country. Grant set the Big Ten Conference single-season record and ranked second in UCLA single-season history with 26 home runs. Woolery joined Grant in the 20-homer club with 23 blasts, signaling just the second time a UCLA duo had each homered 20 times in the same year. Woolery finished the season with a nation-leading 86 runs batted in.
ย
Three of Fernandezโs hitters were named NFCA All-Americans in 2025. Grant and Woolery were tabbed as First Team selections for the first time in their collegiate careers. Senior Savannah Pola received the first All-America recognition of her career being named to the Third Team after a breakout season as UCLAโs batting average leader (.428). Pola ranked second in the nation in hits (98) and fourth in runs scored (73).
ย
Prior to 2024, Fernandez's primary coaching responsibility was in the Bruinsโ bullpen where she coached 10 UCLA hurlers to 21 NFCA All-America awards. UCLA finished top 10 nationally and top two in the Pac-12 in earned run average in each of her final five seasons as pitching coach from 2019-23. Under her tutelage, Rachel Garcia won two Honda Cups, three Honda Sport Awards, two USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year awards, one NFCA National Player of the Year award, one NFCA National Pitcher of the Year award, two Pac-12 Player of the Year awards, one Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year award and was a four-time NFCA All-American (three First Team). In addition, Megan Faraimo won three NFCA All-America awards (two First Team) and was honored as the program's first back-to-back Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year in 2022 and 2023 with the help of Fernandez.
ย
In 2019, Garcia put on a performance for the ages in the circle to bring home the Bruins' 12th NCAA title. Garcia started and was the winning pitcher in all five games at the WCWS. She tossed a complete game in four of those contests, including a 10-inning shutout with 16 strikeouts versus Washington which she walked off with a three-run homer to give herself the win. In total, Garcia threw 36.0 of UCLAโs 38.0 innings in Oklahoma City.
ย
In November 2013, Fernandez was inducted into the National Softball National Hall of Fame, joining Sharron Backus, Gina Vecchione, Sheila Cornell-Douty, Dot Richardson and Sue Enquist. A decade prior, she was inducted into the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003.
ย
Fernandez is a three-time Olympic gold medalist, having helped Team USA to victories in the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games. The only pitcher to appear in all three Olympic finals, Fernandez served as a threat on both sides of the plate. Overall, she achieved a 7-2 record throughout her Olympic career, allowing only 20 hits, seven walks and six runs (four earned) while striking out 93 over 74.2 innings. In addition to her pitching accolades, Fernandez maintained a .333 batting average overall in Atlanta, Sydney and Athens with three home runs, 15 RBIs and 13 runs scored.ย A rare pitcher/hitter, Fernandez has the distinction of holding four individual Olympic records: most strikeouts in a game (25), fewest runs allowed, highest batting average in Olympic play (.545) and most doubles (3). These accolades helped land her in the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame as both an individual and with the 2004 U.S. Olympic Softball Team.
ย
In 1996, Fernandez shined in the United States' 3-1 gold medal victory over China, recording the final three outs to earn a save. She went 1-1 with a 0.33 ERA in softball's inaugural appearance in the Olympics in Atlanta. In the 2000 Sydney Games, Fernandez pitched the U.S. to victory in both the semifinal win over Australia and the gold medal game against Japan. She established an Olympic single-game strikeout record with 25 in a round-robin game against Australia and posted a 0.47 ERA and 52 strikeouts. In 2004, Fernandez was Team USA's top hitter and pitcher, posting a .545 batting average (12-for-22), which set a new record for an Olympic tournament. For the third-consecutive Games, she was in the circle for the final out of the gold medal contest, a 5-1 victory over Australia. Fernandez was selected as an alternate to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
ย
In 1999, Fernandez was named the ASA/USA Softball Female Athlete of the Year. As a pitcher and third baseman, she helped the USA Softball Women's National Team to gold medals at both the Pan American Games and Canada Cup. She also helped the California Commotion win the ASA Women's Major Fast Pitch championship for the fourth consecutive time.
ย
As a player on the professional circuit, Fernandez collected nine ASA All-American titles and seven ASA Womenโs Major Fast Pitch National titles, three times with the Raybestos Brakettes and four times with the California Commotion. She also won the MVP award five times and the Bertha Tickey Award five times
ย
One of the sportโs greatest college players, Fernandez was a two-time NCAA Champion and the first four-time NFCA First Team All-American in school history while starring for UCLA from 1990-93. A three-time winner of the Honda Sport Award, Fernandez became the first softball player to win the prestigious Honda-Broderick Cup in 1993, given to the most outstanding collegiate female athlete in all sports. She led UCLA to national championships in 1990 and 1992 and runner-up finishes in 1991 and 1993. She earned NFCA All-Region and All-Pac-10 First Team each season and was named the Pac-10 Player of the Year her final three seasons. Her jersey was retired by UCLA in 1995. Fernandez was also honored as the Pac-12 Softball Player of the Century and Pitcher of the Century by the league in 2016.
ย
Fernandez booked a career record of 93-7 with 784 strikeouts and 0.22 ERA. Her ERA ranks second in NCAA history and her 74 shutouts are tops at UCLA and tied for ninth in NCAA annals. Fernandezโs strikeout and win totals rankย seventh and eighth in school history, respectively. In her junior and senior seasons, Fernandez had the lowest ERA in the nation (0.14 in 1992, 0.25 in 1993) and sported a perfect 29-0 record in the circle in 1992. She tossed 11 career no-hitters, including a pair in the 1993 WCWS, along with two perfect games.
ย
Fernandez was just as powerful at the plate, batting .382 (287-for-752) with 15 home runs and 128 RBIs. She hit .401 in her junior season, but eclipsed that mark by more than 100 points in her senior campaign, batting an NCAA-best .510 with 11 homers and 45 RBIs. Fernandez still ranks in the UCLA top 10 in numerous offensive categories, including sixth in hits.
ย
Fernandez earned her bachelorโs degree in psychology from UCLA in 1995. She returned to the program in 2007 to join her longtime best friend and Bruin batterymate Kelly Inouye-Perez embarking on her first year as head coach.
ย
Fernandez and Mike Lujan, who were married in August 2002, have two sons, Antonio and Cruz, and reside in Long Beach. Antonio enters his sophomore season as an outfielder on the Azusa Pacific baseball team in 2026. Mike was a two-year letterwinner for the same program in 1988-89 where he appeared in 96 games and hit for a career .324 batting average with 12 home runs.
ย
Fernandezโs Coaching Experience
1997-99 โ Assistant Coach, UCLA
2000-04 โ Volunteer Assistant Coach, UCLA
2007-22 โ Assistant Coach, UCLA
2023-Pres. โ Associate Head Coach, UCLA
Career Highlights
Career
โข 3-time Olympic Gold Medalist (2004, 2000, 1996)
โข UCLA Athletic Hall of Famer (Class of 2003)
โข National Softball Hall of Famer (Class of 2013)
โข U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Famer
โข Pac-12 Softball Player of the Century (2016)
โข Pac-12 Softball Pitcher of the Century (2016)
โข UCLA Retired Jersey No. 16 (1995)
ย
As UCLA Assistant & Associate Head Coach (1997-99; 2007-22)
โข 5-time NCAA Champion (2019, 2010, 2004, 2003, 1999)
โข 3-time NFCA National Coaching Staff of the Year (2019, 2010, 2004)
โข 9-time NFCA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year
ย
As UCLA Student-Athlete (1990-93)
โข 2-time NCAA Champion (1992, 1990)
โข 2-time NCAA Runner-Up (1992, 1990)
โข Honda-Broderick Cup winner (1993)
โข 3-time Honda Sport Award winner (1993, 1992, 1991)
โข 4-time NFCA First Team All-American (1993, 1992, 1991, 1990)
โข 3-time Pac-10 Player of the Year (1993, 1992, 1991)
โข 4-time All-Pac-10 First Team honoree (1993, 1992, 1991, 1990)
ย
UCLA Softball Postgame - Coach Inouye-Perez & Players, vs. Tennessee (June 1, 2025)
Sunday, June 01
UCLA Softball Postgame - Coach Inouye-Perez & Players, vs. Texas Tech (May 31, 2025)
Saturday, May 31
Highlights - UCLA Softball vs. Oregon (May 29, 2025)
Thursday, May 29
UCLA Softball Postgame - Coach Inouye-Perez & Players, vs. Oregon (May 29, 2025)
Thursday, May 29
